Roller stippler



Jan. 30, 1945. A. T. ADAMS 2,363,513

ROLLER STIPPLER Filed June 16, 1941 Patented Jan.- 30, 1945 1 Arthur '1. Adams, Chicago, Ill., asslgnor to Landon P. Smith, Inc., Irvlngton, N. 1., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 16, 1941, Serial No. 398,192

3 Claims. (CI. 41-55) The present invention relates to a roller stippler for stippling painted walls and the like and is particularly useful in removing brush marks from freshly painted surfaces.

In the decorating of walls and ceilings in homes, offices and other buildings it is often desirable to stipple the freshly painted surfaces to remove traces of brush marks made in applying the paint. This stippling makes a more umform appearance and a more easily cleanable surface as dust and grime cannot cling to streak makes caused by paint brushes.

Despite the many advantages of stippling, it has fallen into disuse in many buildings such as hotels, hospitals, ofllces, schools and the like because of the methods and apparatus heretofore used to produce the stippled effect. Up until the time of applicants earlier invention for which LettersPatent No. 2,087,888, issued July 27, 1937, the only satisfactory manner of stippling was the use of a large, heavy, fiat brush having long sturdy bristles. This brush was pounded against a painted surface with the bristles down causing holes and peaks in the painted surface and removing the brush marks.

This method and brush had many disadvantages causing stippling to be superseded byother surfaces as mentioned above. It was noisy. The continuous pounding disturbed people in other ofllces or school rooms. Hospitals and hotels did not like it because of the disturbance to patients and patrons. In the use of a stiilly bristled brush, the bristles penetrated through the paint tothe old surface leaving openings which failed to protect the under-surface and formed openings into which dirt and grime could seep making cleaning most difllcult. 1

Continuous pounding opened cracks in the plaster and, if the wall were uneven, shiners or smooth, unstippled spots were left in the painted surface: Because the bristles continuously absorbed paint, the painter had to use valuable time in cleaning excess paint from th brush during the stippling operation.

Prior to applicant's earlier invention several,

A principal object of this invention is provide a stippling means that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easily cleaned and whose worn parts may be easily renewed.

A further object is to provide a" more efficient stippling roller than those known heretofore.

A stfll further object is to provide a stlppling roller that will leave an unbroken film of paint over the surface painted.

A yet further object of this invention is to provide a stippling device that will stipple corners and leave no edge markings.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a roller stippler embodying the present invention or which may be used in practicing the method:

Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 1 showing the stippling' cover in process of removal;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view through the roller assembly;

Fla. 4 is a sectional view taken on 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the roller stippler cover.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention I use a suction between painted surfaces or utilize the vacuum present in breaking the seal between painted surfaces to bring about the stippling effect without breaking the protective film of paint on the finished surface. This may be done rapidly, emciently and cleanly through the use of my improved tool designed in the form of a roller having a surface that will absorb only. a certain amount of paint and that is sufliciently resilient to make sure that uneven walls, depressions, or high spots will be equally stippled. This stippler is formed with a cylindrical, renewable surface that is easily and inexpensively .exchangeable. Theedges are so formed that edge lines are prevented.

In use paint is applied in the usual manner to a wall or other surface in quantities to be determined upon depending upon whether a heavy or fine stipple is desired. Another painted surface, such as the surface of my roller, is then applied to the first painted surface and removed in such a manner that the seal between the surfaces is broken without breaking the paint film on the wall. The suction between the painted surfaces will cause the proper stippling effect on the painted wall and all brush marks are obliterated without a disturbing noise or ill effects on the wall itself.

the line With reference to the embodiment of the roller stippler shown in the drawing, the stippler includes a roller body member Ill havinga supporting frame member I! joumaled therein. An operating handle I4 is attached thereto. Preferably for smooth operation bronze bushings l5 and I6 are included for ease and smoothness of operation.

As shown the frame member is substantially L-shaped with a return bent journal l'l. supported by the bronze bushings I 5 and I6 so that one end II of the roller may be free for'access into comers or other places where a bifurcated frame would interfere with the wall trim. If the Jouron its surface.

member i it has been found that there is a tendency to apply more pressure at the free end ll causing uneven wear on the stippling cover member an at that point. For this reason the journal I! preferably ends substantially at the central portion of the body member In and about opposite the operating handlell.

The stipplingcover member consists preferably of a material having the characteristics of a short nap extending outwardly from a resilient base or one that will absorb only a limited amount of paint and tends to hold a film of paint A carpeted material has been found to give satisfactory results when used for this purpose.

Preferably the carpeted material is formed or woven into a cylindrical shape as shown at 22. Where sheets of carpeted material are used, juxtaposed edges are joined together through the base portion 23 as at 26 so that the nap or surface portion 24 will close over and conceal the Junction thus formed. By so Joining the two ends by sewing at this point the seam line will not show up on the finished surface. The weaving of the carpeted material originally into this cylindrical shape is at present an expensive operation and the sewn seam gives excellent results.

The cylindrical cover member or sleeve 22 is made to fit snugly over the body portion l0 and needs to be held to it by friction only. For best or beveled as at 25. This may be accomplished by trimming the nap without cutting the base portion. By so forming the edges, edge lines do not appear upon the painted wall and an evenly stippled surface is obtained.

In performing the process with this tool, the wall surface is first covered with paint to a desired thickness. The same stipple cylinder 22 may be used for heavy or light stippling dependin upon the thickness with which the paint is applied with the brush to the wall. A thick coat gives a heavy stipple while a lighter coat gives a proportionately lighter stipple. The surface of the stipple cylinder is then preferably given a preliminary coating of paint as with a brush. The two painted surfaces are then placed in contact with each other to form a seal between them of paint.

This seal is then broken as by rolling the roller stippler backward or forward over the painted wall surface breaking the seal and forming the stipple effect, not through the impression of the nap on the painted wall, but through the suction created from pulling the one painted surface from the other. If the two surfaces are slid over one another this effect will not be obtained.

The painted surface with which the stippling is. being done need not penetrate the paint film or touch the under surface. Only a sufhcient contact is necessary to form a paint seal and a penetrate the paint film to the wall surface breaking the paint film or forming holes mm which dirt and grime may penetrate.

The stippling covers can be easily removed from the roller and washed out after an operation. If colors are to be changed, another cover can be quickly placed on the roller. The roller.

will last indefinitely and'the replacement cost of the cover is small. Where glazing or starchin is to be done over a painted or stippled surface, the roller strippler can be used to efface the brush marks.

By the use of this invention, stippling and the use of stipple-paint will be increased and again regain its popularity. The use of the roller stippler makes stippling work more economical, less tedious for the worker and gives a more uniform and satisfactory finish.-

One application of paint to the roller strippler surface will sufilce to stipple an entire job where the rolling is continuous. The stippler thereafter holds substantially the same amount of paint for sealing purposes. Through this method the paint on the wall .to be stippled may be allowed to set longer than where the usual brush is to be used. A cleaner operation results as there is less danger of paint dripping from walls and ceilings.

Structural modifications and changes are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a stipple cover for a roller stippler a carpeted material formed into a cylindrical member, the inner side of the cylindrical member having 'a lacquer coating.

' 2. In a roller for stippling painted walls, a cylindrical body member, a supporting frame journaled in one end of said body member and having a handle portion, a'cylindrical stipple cover slidable on to and off the other end of said body member, said stipple cover frictionally engaging said body member and being rotatable therewith, said stipple cover having a coating of lacquer insoluble in paint thinner on its inner surface to prevent paint from seeping through said cover to said body member to adhere said cover to said member.

3. A roller device for stippling' walls, which comprises in combination, a cylindrical body member, a supporting frame including a journaled portion and a handle member, said journaled portion extending into one end only of said body member and terminating at substantially the central part thereof, the handle having a return bend from the journaled portion and extending outwardly from said body member at substantially the central part thereof, said body member being covered with a removably mounted carpeted material friction-ally engaging the body member and having-a base portion with a coating of lacquer insoluble in paint thinner on its inner surface to prevent paint from seeping through said cover to said body member to adhere said cover to said member, and an outwardly extending nap portion, the nap portion of said carpeted member being beveled on its edges short of the base portion.

ARTHUR T. ADAMS. 

